problem with shifter

[rocknroll]

the shifter in my gt does not seem to go into gear...it just wiggles around, but you dont feel it slide into gear....for example if you put it into the 1st gear spot...the shifter just moves right back to N.....
the car is not running at the moment
what can this be..

thanks
dan

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by rocknroll the shifter in my gt does not seem to go into gear...it just wiggles around, but you dont feel it slide into gear....for example if you put it into the 1st gear spot...the shifter just moves right back to N..... the car is not running at the moment what can this be.. thanks dan

Dan;
Pull the console up, then flip the shifter boot up, and see if the pivot pin is still holding the shifter into the shift fork. It may be missing. It's just held in by a "C" clip. If the pin is missing, don't fret. You can go to a hardware store and get a regular bolt and nut to replace it. I hjave done this on several of my cars. I hate messing with "C" clips, bolts are far easier to deal with.
Gene

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by BQS4 You can go to a hardware store and get a regular bolt and nut to replace it. I hjave done this on several of my cars. I hate messing with "C" clips, bolts are far easier to deal with. Gene

I would suggest that the nut be a self locking type.

Gene,

I prefer the c clip style so if you would just save all those you convert to bolts I'll take them.

Harold

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Dan; Pull the console up, then flip the shifter boot up, and see if the pivot pin is still holding the shifter into the shift fork. It may be missing. It's just held in by a "C" clip. If the pin is missing, don't fret. You can go to a hardware store and get a regular bolt and nut to replace it. I hjave done this on several of my cars. I hate messing with "C" clips, bolts are far easier to deal with. Gene

While agreeing that a bolt will work, a bolt this short is typically completely threaded so that the shifter pivot uses bolt threads instead of a smooth pin as its bearing surface . . . not exactly ideal wear- or function-wise!

[rocknroll]

Well what do you guys think is the best bet for me to do....and where this spot located ..i am confused by where it is.
Thanks
Rock on
Dan

[soybean]

You can always use a roll pin the same length with a washer and a cotter key. I've always called them roll pins, that might not be the correct terminology for it. Most hardware stores sell them. Take the bolt or pivot pin with you and get the roll pin just a little longer. HTH and is not too confusing. Jarrell

[namba209]

Jarrell, that's kinda sorta, but, referring back to my USAF days and hardware nomenclature, a roll pin was made of spring steel, hollow, with a gap at the longitudinal axis, so that when it was put in a hole of the correct size, the spring action of the pin would hold the pin in place. For referrence, there are three roll pins in the headlight rotating mechanism between the three bolts that hold the spring plates and normally come loose in the mechanism. For the application of the shifter, a straight pin is used with a button head on one end, a hole drilled or circlip groove milled, for either a circlip or washer and cotter pin. HTH.

[soybean]

Ron, you are correct, my hardware nomenclature was off. They are two distinct animals. I have always refered to it as a roll pin, but what I was trying to get across was a "straight pin", with a button head on one end, and a hole drilled for a cotter pin. Thanks for setting me straight. Jarrell

[rocknroll]

so where the heck is this "pin" located ?
thanks
dan

[jerseyopel]

Pull the rubber boot up so that you can see the shifter where it goes into top of trans. The pin is mounted longitudinally and the clip should be at the rear. Remember, If you have a 30yr old car it may have anything holding it in. The clip usually falls out in the driveway when you unhook it so people use bolts with nuts which is much faster and you dont have to worry about the clip.Also you may be able to do a search and find a picture of a shifter.HTH

[soybean]

If you can't find a picture of a shifter, I can take a picture for you in the Am. I have about 5 or 6 trannys on the floor. I believe a couple have the shifter attached. Jarrell

[opelnut10]

The pin goes through the shifter tower and holds the shifter stick in place. It is about 1 and 1/2 inches long and has a beveled end with a "c" clip groove on one end and a shouldered flat head on the other. This pin in addition to the "c" clip is supposed to have a spring flat washer on the other end from the "c" clip groove. That washer holds tension on the "c" clip and prevents it from working loose and falling off.

[namba209]

Originally Posted by soybean Ron, you are correct, my hardware nomenclature was off. They are two distinct animals. I have always refered to it as a roll pin, but what I was trying to get across was a "straight pin", with a button head on one end, and a hole drilled for a cotter pin. Thanks for setting me straight. Jarrell

Jarrell, it wasn't the idea of setting you straight, just trying to get the membership the idea of getting to say the right words, sometimes. A lot of us can determine or decipher what someone means, based on a description of the problem, but it does make it a bit easier when the correct terminology is used. Rats, that doesn't sound too good either. But you get my gist, I hope.

[hustlerzlife]

I just picked up my GT and I have never played around with an older transmission like this. I really hate the whole safety deal to get into and out of reverse (which is really a pain when you live on a hill like me). Can I lock the switch or remove it so I can shift in and out of reverse with greater ease?

Also, when I shift, the gears seem to slam hard even when I try to shift smoothly. I have never had this problem on other cars, but none were this old. The guy I bough it from said there is a rubber donut that might be all ripped up that takes care of this slamming. Is this true, where is it, how do I replace it, how much money?

[baz]

conrad do a search for doughnut with the search engine on site there is a lot of info about changing it
the smooth shifts suffer when this goes
a for the reverse lock out i would not recomend locking it in the up pos as getting reverse instead of first can be a real pain at the first set of lights when there is some one behind you
with the rubber sections replaced the shift will be much better and so will the use of the lockout

[rocknroll]

Hey guys! the "clip and bolt" thingy seem to be in place, but i look under the car and there seems to be a broken cable like this hanging by where the tranny is...can this be why it doesnt stay go into gear?

Thanks
Dan

[rocknroll]

let me rephrase that....there seems to be a broken cable like thing hanging by where the tranny is.....

haha
thanks
dan

[jerseyopel]

No that would not be it. That would be why the speedometer wont work.

[namba209]

Originally Posted by rocknroll let me rephrase that....there seems to be a broken cable like thing hanging by where the tranny is..... haha thanks dan

Well now there are two "cable thingies" that do go to the tranny area. One being the clutch cable that attaches to the throw-out arm and is anchored to the front of the bellhousing. The other is the speedo cable that attaches to the tranny tailshaft. The clutch cable could cause the problem if the engine is not running, but would grind the gears if it is running. I would check the arms attached to the shift lever pivot point and see if they are moving at both ends, that may be the problem, the gears are not moving on the shafts. HTH.

[soybean]

Originally Posted by rocknroll let me rephrase that....there seems to be a broken cable like thing hanging by where the tranny is..... haha thanks dan

If you have a digital camera and could take a picture of the affected area, it sure would help to diagnose the problem. I got pictures of the shifter and the pins today, but we seem to have moved into a different area. Thanks, Jarrell

[rocknroll]

Here i took some pics...tell me if these help with the diagnoses..

Thanks alot
Rock ON,
http://www.opelgt.com/photos/data/50.../peeCN1579.JPGhttp://www.opelgt.com/photos/data/50...bs/poo1577.JPGhttp://www.opelgt.com/photos/data/30...s/DSCN1540.JPG

[rocknroll]

sorry about that.....

here are bigger pics ..hopefully
http://www.opelgt.com/photos/data/500/peeCN1579.JPGhttp://www.opelgt.com/photos/data/500/poo1577.JPG

[hrcollinsjr]

I have a car that won't go into gear with the shift lever either. Look from underneath the car for the linkage on each side of the transmission. There may be excessive wear on the linkage or there is a lever toward the left (pass. side) front of the transmission that is pressed on a shaft coming out the side of the transmission and spot welded, sometimes this breaks loose and just rotates on the shaft without really doing anything. Generally a result of someone shifting gears a LITTLE too hard.

Harold